Building arrangement

ABSTRACT

A building arrangement wherein two adjacent house lots are provided with separate single family homes having separate house walls running along substantially the same portion of the common edge property line of the adjacent lots.

Unite States Patent [191 11 3,732,649 Mehran [4 1 May 15, 1973 [54] BUILDING ARRANGEMENT 811,400 8/1951 Germany ..52/169 [76] Inventor: Masud R. Mehran, PO. Box 849, 814522 9/1951 Gefmany Livermore, 9 550 360,199 3/1962 Switzerland ..52/169 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS OTHER PUBLICATIONS Better Homes and Gardens, February 1971, Pgs. 64-67 with Plats of Lots 50, 51, Block A, Laytonia, Montgomery Co., Md.

Primary Examiner-10hn E. Murtagh Attorney- Bruce & McCoy [57] ABSTRACT tially the same portion of the common edge property line of the adjacent lots.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Canada ..52/169 DT 51 E] [r Fm 21 39 13 U 27 3 2 I3 39 J1 31 2| ,2 m

r1 -51 Fl 9 FT *I U u i:' -55 3 l? 55 2 |3 F l Fl 2 3 32 J Ll r C: l L] F] F! 2| E 2 Ll In L] 115 v 1. l5 19 E1 3 E E r1 5 n r%\ 39 l I J LJ LJ 39-. fiws E [I [I] [1 U U U PATENTEDHAYWW 3732349 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. MASUD R. MEHRAN PATENTEB HAY 1 5 I973 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. MASUD R. MEHRAN BY M M BUILDING ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to building arrangements for achieving higher utilization of land area and more particularly to house building arrangements wherein a pair of homes are constructed on adjacent lots with a wall of each house placed along the common edge property line of the adjacent lots. I

2. Description of the Prior Art One of the most pressing problems in providing low cost housing involves the high price of land on which the houses must be built. Furthermore, the cost of single-family homes is further augmented by the high cost of building materials and labor. If higher utilization of available land area can be achieved, together with the reduction in materials used and the amount of labor involved in fabricating a home, the overall cost of each home can be drastically reduced for comparable quality homes.

Most populated areas in the country have building restrictions and codes which often require front, side, and rear yards. These have been believed necessary for aesthetic purposes and other real or imagined reasons such as to lower the transmission of sound between homes. These requirements have the effect of reducing the size of the home which can be placed on a specific sized lot or of requiring the purchase of a larger lot than is really necessary in order to build a specific sized home.

It is believed that it aesthetically pleasing homes could be built on smaller plots of land and still have the advantages of outside recreation areas, insulation from sound transmission, and light and air inwardly directed to the home, that the object of zoning restrictions would be realized and yet the overall price of the home could be reduced.

Many studies have been made by state and federal agencies with regard to low cost housing, and one conclusion usually reached is that as the price of the home is lowered, many additional non-owners of houses can qualify to purchase a home. However, many home buyers wish to purchase a low cost, high quality home on an individual city lot that will offer low maintenance, privacy, security, and that will further combine the delight of rural environment with all the conveniences of city living, i.e., seclusion without isolation. Furthermore, most home buyers wish to buy an attractivelooking home which is distinctive and which is placed in an attractive neighborhood.

A particular solution to the above set forth problems is offered by the home building arrangement of the present invention wherein each single-family home is placed on a separate city lot with one wall running along the common edge property line of an adjacent lot. The structures of the two separate single-family homes are architecturally and structurally integrated to thereby give the two dwellings an appearance of being one large home. Furthermore, by providing spaces between each of the integrated structures, the two separate inexpensive homes appear to be one expensive home, thereby giving the neighborhood in which they are placed the more appealing aspect of being a much more expensive area than it actually is.

The best known prior art with regard to homes arranged in a manner somewhat similar to the home arrangement set forth in the present application appears to be what is called duplex homes. However, duplex homes differ from the present invention in that they are not provided with separate house walls placed adjacent to each other on two separate pieces of property and the structural integration differs from the housing arrangement set forth in the present application. Moreover, the construction of duplex homes fails to contemplate still other specific features of the present invention, such as individual ownership of the separate houses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a house building arrangement wherein a pair of adjacent lots are each provided with a single-family home placed thereon in such a manner that one wall of each of the homes is disposed along substantially the same portion of the common edge property line of each adjacent lot.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a building arrangement which achieves maximum utilization of the available land area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement wherein each house provided on a pair of adjacent lots is provided with a house wall running along substantially the same portion of the common edge property line of the adjacent lots.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement wherein each house is provided with a separate insulated wall formed closely spaced from the house wall of the adjacent house wall to prevent the transmission of sound from one house to the other.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement which gives the appearance of being comprised of more expensive houses than it actually is.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement wherein two adjacent separate dwellings are architecturally integrated to make the two dwellings appear as one large one.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to structurally integrate two separate dwellings placed on adjacent separate lots into a duplex type unit which appears to be one large single-family dwelling placed on a single lot.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement wherein each house is provided with a detached garage.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement wherein each house is placed on a separate city lot and is provided with a detached garage placed rearwardly of the house with a separate driveway running to the garage.

And it is still another'object of the present invention to provide a housing arrangement wherein a low cost, high quality home, offering low maintenance, privacy and security is provided on an individual city lot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plot division and building arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the novel insulating quiet wall construction of applicants present invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the novel architectural and structural integration of the paired separate homes of the present invention whereby the two homes appear to be one single-family home.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a planned community or tract (11) utilizing the unique land utilization and arrangement of homes in accordance with the present invention. The tract to be broken up or subdivided and upon which single-family homes (13) are to be constructed, is divided into a number of separate lots (15).

Where the zoning laws require side yards for aesthetic purposes, the present invention provides this aesthetic appearance by seeming to provide larger side yards than required because the two adjacent houses appear as one with large side yards on each side because each house in effect has both of its side yards on the same side of the house and there are two of these side by side.

The land utilization plan and housing arrangement of the present invention allows approximately seven family dwellings per acre to be constructed as compared with previous high densities of four or five per acre where two side yards are required. The tract also includes a plurality of streets (17) capable of carrying vehicular traffic and upon which the subdivided lots face. The subdivision may be further divided into separate rows of lots (19). Each of the rows preferably contains an even number of lots. The even number of lots is arrived at by determining the depth of the lot to be used in each row, measuring the entire length of the portion to be subdivided and making each of the lots as wide as is considered suitable. Depending on the amount of land available, the lots may be made as narrow as the width of an average city lot, 40' or under.

If the space available is not easily divided into an even number of lots or local ordinances require open areas, some of the lots, such as end lots (21), may be made of different sizes or a park (23) may be placed in a convenient area, such as a corner of the tract.

The average size lot (15) shown in FIG. 1, is the minimum size permissible which allows open spaces to be left between adjacent units and, in the preferred embodiment shown, the lots average approximately 42' wide by 80' deep. The size of the lot is, of course, dependent on the amount of land available and, as shown, lots (25) disposed about the periphery of cul-de-sacs or circular street sections (27) of the tract are shaped to enable all of the available land to be used. The shape of the lots (25) further insures that each of the individual rows (19) contains an even number of lots.

The present invention utilizes a unique construction of paired, single-family homes (29) on adjacent lots. In this manner, small city-sized lots may be provided with single-family homes (13) having the necessary privacy, security and enjoyment now available only in singlefamily homes placed on large individual lots. Furthermore, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the separate homes (13) are architecturally and structurally integrated to give the appearance of being one singlefamily home on a large individual lot with wide spaces (30) provided between each of the integrated structures. Each of the separate homes (13) is provided with at least one entry door (32). To enhance the looks of each integrated structure (29), the entry doors of each of the pair of homes making up the integrated structure are placed at to each other. In this manner, when the integrated structure is viewed from the outside, it has the appearance of having only one front door thereby adding to the impression of being a single larger home.

The subdivided lots are most fully utilized by placing the structurally integrated, paired homes (29) on a pair of adjacent lots (31) whereby a wall of each home (13) is disposed or runs along a common side property line (33) of the two adjacent lots. Each of the homes is preferably placed at the front of its lot facing upon a street (17) and is separated from an adjoining lot by the space (30) which may consist of driveways, patios, or yard areas placed on each of the lots.

In the preferred embodiment shown, each of the homes (13) is provided with a detached or separate garage (35) placed on the lot rearwardly thereof, and if no easement (37), such as for water, drainage, landscaping, or the like is required, a wall of the garage is preferably placed so that it lies along a portion of the other side lot line (39) of its respective lot. If desired, the detached garages may also be architecturally and structurally integrated to give the appearance of being one large garage between two adjacent integrated structures.

The structurally integrated pairs of homes (29), placed on adjacent pairs of lots (31 are each independently constructed units having four or more walls enclosing a floor placed on a foundation. The floor and the foundation may be constructed in any suitable manner. The floors are constructed on each lot adjacent the common property line between the lots so that one edge of the floor substantially runs along the common property line. However, the edges of the adjacent floors are so placed on their respective lots that they do not touch and are preferably constructed with a space of approximately 1 inch between the adjacent floors.

As shown in FIG. 2, concrete slabs (41) forming the foundation upon which the floor, walls, and the like are supported, are provided on each of the adjacent lots with the required space (43) therebetween. A side wall (45) of each of the respective homes is built on the foundation, adjacent the edge of the foundation. The walls are also preferably spaced apart approximately one inch to form an insulated open air space (45) therebetween. The walls may be constructed in any desired manner, but in the preferred embodiment shown, comprise a standard dry wall inner wall (47), a full thickness of insulating material (49), such as foil faced fiberglass insulating batting, held between standard wall studs (51) and an outside wall (53), such as gypsum board fire rated, core treated, exterior sheathing. The exterior surface of the outside wall (53) is treated and finished before being positioned, and when in the constructed position does not have to be painted or further treated for the life of the home.

The open air spaces (43) provided between the walls of the completed homes are then capped or covered, in any suitable manner, such as a capping strip (54), to

provide protection from the elements, for aesthetic purposes, and to enhance the insulating properties of the open air space. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the capping strip blends in with the overall design of both homes to give the separate homes the appearance of being one large home.

If desired, the detached garages (35) placed at the rear of adjoining lots may also be provided with separate walls, placed along common property lines, constructed in the same fashion as the walls of the houses. This construction provides insulation between the garages to insure privacy therebetween and provides further integration to improve the looks of the entire community. Furthermore, if two rows (19) of adjoining pairs of lots (31) are backed up against each other along a common rear property line (55) as indicated, the garages (35) of a plurality of lots may be provided with insulated wall portions as described above. Depending on the size of the backed up lots, the garages may be constructed so that the adjacent wall portions are arranged in any desired manner depending on the alignment of the garages.

On those lots having easements, wherein permanent structures such as garages cannot be built, the garages may be placed at the rear of the lot in any suitable location and may be placed adjacent further garages or may be separated as indicated at (57).

An important advantage of the unique land use and home construction of the instant invention lies in the fact that a low cost, high quality home may be built on an individual city lot offering low maintenance, privacy and security. Furthermore, fences or walls may be placed along the common lot lines, not having houses or garages placed thereon, to provide for maximum privacy and security.

There is no limit to the layout of the homes which may be constructed from the adjacent foundations; and homes having any number of bedrooms, separate kitchens, separate family rooms, and one or more baths, on a single double or more levels, depending upon the local zoning requirements and allowable variances, may be built.

The constructed homes, architecturally and structurally integrated in the manner set forth, have the further advantage of realizing wide spaces between pairs of integrated homes to give the impression of being in a more expensive area than is actually the case.

Furthermore, the detached garages placed at the rear of the homes may be provided with extra deep driveways at the side of the homes to separate the adjoining lots and allow for the storage of boats or recreational vehicles therein. Normally, this advantage cannot be obtained in a lot of the size upon which the homes of the instant invention are constructed.

Since at least one wall of the home and the garage will not have to be maintained after the homes have been constructed, the homes of the instant invention have the further desirable feature of requiring a minimum amount of maintenance so that the owners will have more leisure time for recreation.

Also, because the homes are provided on smaller lots, with adjacent walls requiring no aesthetically pleasing exterior finish and having no windows therein, lower cost housing having all the amenities and quality associated with higher priced units may be offered to a larger proportion of the population.

The single-family homes of the instant invention, placed on individual lots, having insulated walls with an insulated air space therebetween, and with fences or walls also formed on adjacent property lines, provide the maximum in seclusion without being isolated from neighbors. Furthermore, although the problems of a large home on a separate lot are eliminated, the amount of living space in the home is not reduced and a fine home at a reasonable price, unavailable in any known planned community, may be obtained.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A housing arrangement for a pair of adjacent lots, each of said adjacent lots having at least one front property line, one rear property line, and two edge property lines, one of said edge property lines of each of said lots forming a common edge property line between said adjacent lots except when bordering on a street;

a house placed on each of said adjacent lots at the front portion thereof facing a street capable of carrying vehicular traffic, a wall of each of said houses being disposed along substantially the same portion of the common edge property line and being spaced apart from the adjacent house wall by about one inch, said two separate houses each having a separate front door but disposed at to each other so that when the integrated structure is viewed from the front it appears to have only one front doorway giving it the appearance of being only a single family house twice as large as each house actually is;

a detached garage placed at the rear portion of each of said lots away from said street, a wall of each of said garages being disposed along a portion of one of the other edge property lines of its respective lot spaced apart about one inch from an adjacent wall of a garage disposed along the other edge property line of an adjoining lot; and

cap means covering the entire length of the opening formed by the respective spaces between said house and garage walls to thereby fabricate structurally integrated respective house and garage units whereby each gives the appearance of being a single unit.

2. The housing arrangement of claim 1 wherein a further plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots are arranged behind said first plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots so as to join said first plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots along a common rear property line,

each of said further pairs of adjacent lots being provided with further pairs of adjacent houses having walls running along the common property lines, said further pairs of houses being placed at the front of said further pairs of lots and facing a different street,

each of said further pairs of adjacent lots having further detached garages placed at a rear corner of each of said further lots,

said further detached garages being so placed on said further lots that a wall of each of said further gacorner of said comer lot behind said dwelling so that one wall of said garage is disposed along a portion of the common edge property line of said pair of adjacent lots and a second wall of said garage is disposed along the rear property line of said corner lot. 

1. A housing arrangement for a pair of adjacent lots, each of said adjacent lots having at least one front property line, one rear property line, and two edge property lines, one of said edge property lines of each of said lots forming a common edge property line between said adjacent lots except when bordering on a street; a house placed on each of said adjacent lots at the front portion thereof facing a street capable of carrying vehicular traffic, a wall of each of said houses being disposed along substantially the same portion of the common edge property line and being spaced apart from the adjacent house wall by about one inch, said two separate houses each having a separate front door but disposed at 90* to each other so that when the integrated structure is viewed from the front it appears to have only one front doorway giving it the appearance of being only a single family house twice as large as each house actually is; a detached garage placed at the rear portion of each of said lots away from said street, a wall of each of said garages being disposed along a portion of one of the other edge property lines of its respective lot spaced apart about one inch from an adjacent wall of a garage disposed along the other edge property line of an adjoining lot; and cap means covering the entire length of the opening formed by the respective spaces between said house and garage walls to thereby fabricate structurally integrated respective house and garage units whereby each gives the appearance of being a single unit.
 2. The housing arrangement of claim 1 wherein a further plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots are arraNged behind said first plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots so as to join said first plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots along a common rear property line, each of said further pairs of adjacent lots being provided with further pairs of adjacent houses having walls running along the common property lines, said further pairs of houses being placed at the front of said further pairs of lots and facing a different street, each of said further pairs of adjacent lots having further detached garages placed at a rear corner of each of said further lots, said further detached garages being so placed on said further lots that a wall of each of said further garages is disposed along said common rear property line adjacent the wall of at least one of said garages placed on said first plurality of adjoining pairs of adjacent lots.
 3. The housing arrangement of claim 1 wherein one of said adjacent pairs of lots is a corner lot facing on two different streets, and a garage is placed at the rear corner of said corner lot behind said dwelling so that one wall of said garage is disposed along a portion of the common edge property line of said pair of adjacent lots and a second wall of said garage is disposed along the rear property line of said corner lot. 